DERBY — James Cilwik of Derby broke a decade-old course record at the 17th Annual Dandelion Run on Saturday, completing the half marathon in 1:11:21 despite an approaching thunderstorm.
The 21-year-old University of Vermont cross-country runner shattered the previous record of 1:19:29, set in 2013 by Christian Vachon of Magog, Quebec. Cilwik, a North Country Union High School graduate, has a history with the event, having set the 10-kilometer record of 33:44 minutes in 2022.
Rory Young, 23, of St. Johnsbury claimed first place among women in the half marathon with a time of 1:55:22.
In the 10-kilometer race, 18-year-old Luke DeLaBruere of Derby finished first with a time of 36:08, while his mother, Monica DeLaBruere, 38, won the women’s division in 48:50.
The four-mile course saw Danica Rolfe, 49, of Lyndonville and David Vallieres, 36, of Orleans take top honors among adults with times of 28:58 and 34:40 respectively. Youth winners were Carter Vallieres, 13, of Orleans and Tristan Martin, 14, of North Troy.
The event, which drew more than 160 participants ranging from ages 4 to 77, was briefly interrupted by a thunderstorm that hit the course around 11 a.m., forcing some runners to seek shelter in nearby homes. The marathon included a contingent of over 60 youth runners, with 30 arriving by bus from Troy School.
This year’s run honored the memory of Terri Weed and raised $1,250 for Umbrella, an organization supporting victims of violence. Community National Bank sponsored the event.
Thirteen cyclists also participated in a new marathon bike route through Holland, with only two completing the course before the storm hit.
